Article

Serie A wrap: Napoli push Juve hard

Napoli maintained the pressure on Serie A champions Juventus with a 1-0 win at Sampdoria, while Lazio prevailed at home to Siena.

Edinson Cavani scored the decisive goal for Napoli in the 68th minute of Sunday's clash after Marek Hamsik was brought down by Daniele Gastaldello in the Sampdoria box, resulting in a penalty.

Gastaldello was sent off for receiving a second caution and had barely left the pitch as Cavani fired the ball past Sampdoria goalkeeper Sergio Romero, who had little chance of making a save.

Like Juventus, Napoli have five wins and a draw after six games, though Antonio Conte's side remain on top with a superior goal difference.

Inter moved up to third place on the table following a 2-1 victory over Fiorentina at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.

Diego Milito opening the scoring from the penalty spot in the 17th minute before Antonio Cassano doubled the hosts' advantage 15 minutes later.

Romulo pulled a goal back just before half time, but Fiorentina's hopes of salvaging anything from the match were effectively dashed when Gonzalo Rodriguez was sent off following his second yellow card in the 62nd minute.

Elsewhere, Ederson and Cristian Ledesma got on the scoresheet as Lazio clinched a 2-1 victory at the Stadio Olimpico.

The win saw Lazio climb to fourth with 12 points, while Sampdoria dropped to fifth on 10 points.

Fabrizio Miccoli netted a hat-trick as Palermo recorded their first win of the season by beating Chievo 4-1 at home.

Cagliari remain rooted to the bottom of the table without a victory after going down to Pescara 2-1 at home.

Meanwhile, Bologna accounted for Catania 4-0 at home, Torino thumped Atalanta 5-1 away and Udinese and Genoa played out a 0-0 stalemate in Udine.

Article

Serie A preview: Sampdoria set for Napoli challenge

28 September 2012 05:01

Midfielder Gianni Munari has claimed Sampdoria are 'a team full of character' ahead of their blockbuster Serie A clash against Napoli.

Sampdoria, who were promoted to Italy's top tier through the playoffs after one season in Serie B, have started their new campaign in great form with three straight victories before consecutive 1-1 draws against Torino and Roma.

The Genoa-based club sit third in the league standings and take on equal first-placed Napoli on Sunday in what will be arguably the match of the round; and Munari believes Sampdoria have shown they can continue their early form throughout the season.

"We are a team full of character," Munari said.

"I'm looking forward to this year."

Sampdoria trail Napoli by three points, which includes a one-point penalty to the former due to their involvement in the Italian match-fixing scandal.

Napoli will provide a very tough challenge to Sampdoria with Walter Mazzarri's having scored 10 goals in their past four games to sit equal-top of Serie A alongside reigning champions Juventus with the two teams level on points, goal difference, goals scored and goals against.

But Mazzarri remains keen to play down expectations in Naples.

"We are only five games into the season and the road is long," Mazzarri said after Napoli's 3-0 win over Lazio on Wednesday.

"We have had a great victory and are looking at Sampdoria because it will be a tough game."

In the other big match of the round, Juventus host Roma with the visitors' coach Zdenek Zeman set to face a hostile reception.

The 65-year-old Czech claimed during his first spell in charge of Roma 14 years ago that Juventus were using performance-enhancing drugs and has also criticised the reigning champions this season, in relation to the ban on their coach Antonio Conte for match-fixing.

Roma are eighth in Serie A and are certain to maintain Zeman's attacking philosophy despite the tough trip to Turin on Saturday, while AC Milan will travel to Parma for the other early game of the round.

The late game on Sunday pits Inter Milan against Fiorentina, while Lazio host Siena and Udinese take on Genoa.

In other Serie A matches, Atalanta host Torino, Bologna face Catania, Cagliari will play Pescara and Palermo are up against Chievo.